Tourism Working Group Key Action Plans 2011-2013 Members: Dixon Seeto (Chair), Josaia Rayawa, Max Storck,

David Hunt, Michael Wong, Gus Kraus.

Apologies: Nynette Sass (Samoa), Robert Skews (Cook Islands)

Preamble: The discussions and recommendations of the Group are from a Private Sector perspective working within the PIPSO brief. The objective of this working group is to develop the tourism industry in the Pacific and more importantly the work program to lead to sustainable and profitable projects. While the development of tourism is a priority, there are also major benefits in terms of the ability to promote trade and export as airfreight and sea freight can be developed in conjunction with the different modes of transport that we were looking at. This has a definite linkage with the development of the agriculture sector in the Pacific countries. At the same time, the tourism industry also has a bearing on related industries such as construction, food production, SMEs, local cottage industries etc. Tourism is now the major industry in most Pacific countries (given its natural attributes) and is a key contributor in terms of employment, investment, GDP, and Foreign Exchange earnings.

Key Action Plan 2011-2013: Outlined here below are the key areas of action identified by the Working Group to achieve the objective of developing the tourism industry in the Pacific and more importantly the work program to lead to sustainable and profitable projects.
Key Priority Areas Aviation Key Actions Immediate (12 months) Initiate a study on the concept of a regional carrier Review current Bilateral Arrangements regarding air services Scheduling cooperation between the airlines Identify and initiate discussions with key cruise shipping service providers to come to the Pacific and Medium-Term Develop concepts of subsidies/airline alliance/code-share Promote regional cooperation on aviation rights Marine Surveys to be conducted before the project takes shape Performance Indicators

Sea Transportation

examine the concept of basing 1 or a number of vessels in the Pacific to do the fly-cruise project Identifying and prioritize countries to work on the sea cruise strategy Liaise with the Marine Authorities in the region to develop suitable policies for growth-to build a Pacific Standard Review and liberalize the current legislations on tariffs and other import legislations Liaise with the Land and Transportation Authorities in the region to develop suitable policies for growth-to build a Pacific Standard Review the possibility of developing potential interactions with other Tourism Organizations Develop a Calendar of regional events for at least 3 years in advance Need to identify specific SME industries in the countries to develop and grow Identifying the cross-linkages with other working groups (agriculture, transport & energy etc) Engage in collaborative efforts with tourism service providers in the region

Developing the infrastructure to support the cruise strategy Encourage yachting as a niche market in Pacific markets (super yachts and cruising yachts)

Land Transport

Build linkages between Infrastructure development and tourism

Marketing and Promotion

Develop mentoring programs among private sector in the region in Marketing and Promotion

Small Business Development

Assist in finance, human resources and business capacity building workshops and maintain regional liaison between the countries

(It is vital that local expertise are exhausted before overseas nationals are brought in)

HRD Training and Institutional Strengthening

Conduct training needs Identify funding to assist analysis in the region - NPSOs with training of key personnel Review the services provided particularly by the APTC, USP, Develop training programs at TVET etc varying tiers (in country/ international) Identify Accredited service providers and Private Sector Labour Mobility/Exchange to provide similar training Develop a mentoring programme to assist fellow tourism operators. And form a scheme similar to the Australian Business Volunteers Gather statistics on Tourism as a contributor to the GDP and Foreign Exchange of the countries Promote and develop sustainable infrastructure development in line with sustainable tourism projects

Infrastructure Development

Review the need for tariff concessions for tourism related equipment e.g. small crafts, Buses

14 February 2011 Pacific Islands Private Sector Organisation